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Roadside Eligibility Changes

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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 10:55 AM
  #1  
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Roadside Eligibility Changes

Anyone else get the letter from Mercedes? From January 2011 and forward they are changing who qualifies for Roadside Assistance. I no longer qualify, but I'm sure a lot of you will.

To be eligible for roadside you must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Be under warranty.
2. Purchased your Mercedes from a Mercedes dealership before January 2011 and still own it.
3. Have your vehicle regularly serviced at a Mercedes dealership.

Basically, it's a ploy to get people into the dealer. It says "at least one transaction of at least $100 in the previous 18 months before the call" so that shouldn't be too hard. However, my car doesn't go to the dealership. I bought it used from a luxury car dealer, but not Mercedes, and my warranty is out.

I figured this would happen eventually.
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 11:19 AM
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Yep, I got the letter the other day. Doesn't really impact me, since I'll have them in for the things I don't feel like doing anyway. They did add some services, though. I did not read that close, but free towing to the nearest dealer in some cases can be well worth it.

However, I have to admit, I wish they had just expanded the services for the people who had the vehicle at the dealer recently or such. It has always been sort of cool to look at 40 year old MB and think "Roadside service will still come out for that one if the battery dies, just because it is a Mercedes." The ending of this is the ending of a era for the brand.

(boy I am being verbose today!)
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by MW_ATL
free towing to the nearest dealer in some cases can be well worth it
Exactly. Matt, I would just get something done at your local dealership that would make you qualify, like replacing the brakes or something (I'm sure at least one bushing will die on your car every 18 months). It would be worth it, I think. Cheaper than AAA, though no cool maps or trip tiks.
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by tommy
Exactly. Matt, I would just get something done at your local dealership that would make you qualify, like replacing the brakes or something (I'm sure at least one bushing will die on your car every 18 months). It would be worth it, I think. Cheaper than AAA, though no cool maps or trip tiks.

AAA is awesome so many discounts and for being a member for 25 years i get even more discounts =D Pretty funny that you can even use AAA for getting discounts on medicine. I saved so much money having tripple A. Ive even givin friends free towing before a few times. Free gas when you need it?? AAA is worth every dime. Wait time is no more then 30 mins
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by LILBENZ230
Anyone else get the letter from Mercedes? From January 2011 and forward they are changing who qualifies for Roadside Assistance. I no longer qualify, but I'm sure a lot of you will.

To be eligible for roadside you must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Be under warranty.
2. Purchased your Mercedes from a Mercedes dealership before January 2011 and still own it.
3. Have your vehicle regularly serviced at a Mercedes dealership.


Basically, it's a ploy to get people into the dealer. It says "at least one transaction of at least $100 in the previous 18 months before the call" so that shouldn't be too hard. However, my car doesn't go to the dealership. I bought it used from a luxury car dealer, but not Mercedes, and my warranty is out.

I figured this would happen eventually.
Do you have to qualify for all 3 to be eligible for roadside assistance? For example, my is car serviced at the dealership but it's not under warranty and I did not purchase it there, am I no longer eligible?
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mslaughter
Do you have to qualify for all 3 to be eligible for roadside assistance? For example, my is car serviced at the dealership but it's not under warranty and I did not purchase it there, am I no longer eligible?
It says right above that you just have to qualify for one of the 3
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 06:23 PM
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well at least you guys get it in canada we get it ONLY well under warrenty once its over no more free roadside
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 08:30 PM
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how gay I was proud to tell my friends I have a lifetime roadside assistance agent
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 97W202
how gay I was proud to tell my friends I have a lifetime roadside assistance agent
Right. After this we can put honda badge on our hoods
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 09:42 PM
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Damn, I was hoping to use Roadside assistance for a battery change (part plus tip). Now I have to risk blowing my SAM.
My SAM blowing from spark
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Old Dec 9, 2010 | 11:17 PM
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I plan on doing as much routine maintenance as I can on my car and get the stealership to do the hard stuff so this kind of hits me a bit. However, my car insurance has roadside assistance so I have something to fall back on, at least. I think my wife's car will visit the stealership more regularly since it is a CPO.

When we bought my wife's car, they made a big deal about the roadside assistance and how they were competing with Lexus. It sounds like they have decided not to compete that much with Lexus (and BMW for that matter). It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 08:26 AM
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I have "roadside assistance" from Progressive insurance for $7 (for 6 months) for each of my car. That's $28 for 1 year for both cars. You can call any tow truck (anywhere) and they will reimburse the costs related to emergency.

I have owned MB truck/car for the past 15 years, I have not had to call MB roadside... I doubt I will need it.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 01:20 PM
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http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/contact_us/overview


Q. Is my vehicle covered by Roadside Assistance even though the warranty has expired?

It is possible for any Mercedes-Benz vehicle to qualify for the many benefits of Roadside Assistance regardless of age or mileage.

Please go to MercedesRoadside.com for more information.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by phister
It says right above that you just have to qualify for one of the 3
Whoops! Totally overlooked that, thanks.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by govertime
http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/contact_us/overview


Q. Is my vehicle covered by Roadside Assistance even though the warranty has expired?

It is possible for any Mercedes-Benz vehicle to qualify for the many benefits of Roadside Assistance regardless of age or mileage.

Please go to MercedesRoadside.com for more information.
Roadside Assistance and free towing to a local Benz dealership are two separate issues, I think.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 02:14 PM
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Same eligibility requirements, according to the website.
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Old Dec 10, 2010 | 02:44 PM
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It is not effective until January. Right now, all Mercedes cars qualify for the basic roadside assistance they have always had.

Beginning in January to qualify even for basic roadside (like a tire change) you will have to meet one of those requirements. They will tow you for free to the nearest dealership as a part of the expanded coverage but jesus christ how much might that end up costing you? A free tow and a $5,000 bill? Or a $100 tow and a $500 bill? Mercedes dealers in Atlanta are quite ridiculous and my car stays away from them at all costs. A $1,500 brake job.. $300 Service A.. $565 transmission fluid CHANGE (not flush).. No thanks. My costs are lot less even with the same parts. A front brake job including everything is about $350 for me, a Service A is about $70, and a transmission fluid change is about $175.

Last edited by LILBENZ230; Dec 10, 2010 at 02:46 PM.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 02:38 AM
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CRAP!

I just found out about this coverage a couple months ago. My wife has had AAA for years and used them for tire changes and towing. I told her that we could ditch that coverage because of the MB coverage...I guess we're going to sign back up with AAA.
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Old Dec 12, 2010 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by LILBENZ230
Mercedes dealers in Atlanta are quite ridiculous and my car stays away from them at all costs. A $1,500 brake job... ... ...A front brake job including everything is about $350 for me, a Service A is about $70, and a transmission fluid change is about $175.
Matt, you have sure made me feel better! I took mine to the dealer for the front brakes (pad/rotors/sensors, everything) because I didn't feel like dealing with it and walked out for 397.00, then had a discount with put me about 5.00 over your 350.00.

It was also 55.00 for them to change the fluid on the rear differential. Again, I could have done it, but for that, it wasn't worth dragging out the tools, going and getting what I needed, etc.

Now on the same note I will admit that the transmission fluid change was 260.00. However, I had a couple of other things that I needed to get done and did not feel like doing it myself, plus I had a loaner while they worked on mine.

I'm not sure where you are shopping, or maybe I just have a really good relationship with my dealer/SA....

Regardless, I think there will be something else I don't feel like dealing with that is reasonable in the next 18 months.

I do still think that the changes in the basic roadside is loosing some of the mystique of the brand, even though I don't think it will have an effect for me.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:18 PM
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Those sound like RBM prices. They would be my pick if it wasn't just easier for me to do it my way. The prices I quoted are Atlanta Classic Cars stupidity. Also, your brakes are different than mine. The Sport brakes invite rape at dealership.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:42 PM
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Yep, RBM. I have been playing with the idea of changing calipers and rotors on the front, but just haven't gotten around to doing it yet. Other things on the list. I have been to Atlanta Classic Cars once. Long story and won't go back...ever.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 02:48 PM
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Inevitably, I'm sure, I'll have to go to the dealership for something. The rear diff fluid change sounds like a good idea. Maybe I'll just take you with me lol
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 03:52 PM
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Actually that is their advertised price on the website.

I find a lot of the stuff like that to just be close enough it is not worth the trouble to do at home. I haven't asked about the power steering fluid change, but I think next time I am in I will try to have that done if it is reasonable as well.
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Old Dec 13, 2010 | 04:34 PM
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Can't you guys do this through PMs?
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Old Dec 18, 2010 | 11:15 PM
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No great shakes.

Although our local dealer saw fit to perform the mandatory Service Campaigns and complete several goodwill repairs (EIS, RMS and seat modules) long after its warranty had expired, each visit invariably begat a “recommended repairs consultation.” With parts and labor quotes big enough to choke a horse, after politely declining I hightailed it out of there. Do on occasion enjoy eyeballing their recent deliveries from Affalterbach though.

It’s far more convenient to ring AAA should the need arise.
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